Aug 17, 2026, 12:31 PM ET

Cleveland Browns rookie first-round wide receiver KC Concepcion said his confidence "skyrocketed" after the back-to-back big catch and touchdown run on a sweep in the team's preseason opener on Saturday against the Chicago Bears, according to Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer. The 21-year-old 24th overall pick from Texas A&M caught three of his four targets for 27 yards on Saturday and took his only carry for 14 yards and a touchdown while playing with the first-team offense. Concepcion is pretty much a lock to be a starting wideout for Cleveland in his first year in the NFL in 2026, and he could even take over as the Browns' WR1 after catching 61 passes for 919 yards and an SEC-high nine touchdowns in 13 games for the Aggies last year. Concepcion caught 25 TD passes in his three years in college (two years at North Carolina State). The only thing that could hold him back in his first year in the NFL is the Browns' less-than-ideal QB situation with Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders battling for the starting job. Concepcion's name should be rising up draft boards this fall as a popular late-round flier with upside.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Cleveland Plain Dealer - Mary Kay Cabot

Aug 17, 2026, 12:24 PM ET

Free-agent running back Najee Harris (Achilles) is visiting with the New York Giants on Monday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. It's the third known visit for Harris this year after he worked out with the Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks earlier this spring. The Giants would be a poor fit for the 28-year-old, with second-year back Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. firmly entrenched atop the team's RB depth chart going into the 2026 season. They also have Devin Singletary in their RB room. Harris, a former 24th overall pick in 2021 by the Pittsburgh Steelers, started his career off with four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons in the Steel City before signing with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency last spring. Harris made it only three games with the Bolts in 2025 before suffering a season-ending torn Achilles tendon. If Harris latches on with a new organization before the regular season begins, he'll merely be competing for a depth role and is unlikely to pique much interest in single-year fantasy leagues.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter

Aug 17, 2026, 12:02 PM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday that quarterback Baker Mayfield will play in the team's second preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, according to Jenna Laine of ESPN. It will be a deviation from last year, when Mayfield didn't see any preseason action at all. Mayfield made headlines at the start of training camp when he had some negative things to say about the organization after they didn't seem too interested in getting a contract extension done with him before the start of camp. The 31-year-old former first overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2018 from Oklahoma made the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons in Tampa in 2023 and 2024, but he battled through injuries for most of last year and saw his numbers regress, finishing with 3,693 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 17 starts to miss the postseason. In a new offense run by coordinator Zac Robinson, Mayfield and the Bucs are looking to bounce back, but it won't be easy without future Hall of Fame receiver Mike Evans. Going into his ninth year in the NFL, Mayfield's fantasy stock is down as a low-end QB2 with minimal upside.--Keith Hernandez
Source: ESPN.com - Jenna Laine

Aug 17, 2026, 11:54 AM ET

Kansas City Chiefs rookie fifth-round running back Emmett Johnson appears to be the clear No. 2 RB in KC in training camp behind starter Kenneth Walker, with Johnson getting the next touch after Walker in 9-on-7 drills in Monday's practice, according to Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star. Head coach Andy Reid had good things to say about the Nebraska product after he carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and caught all three of his targets for 10 yards during the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. Johnson's carries and rushing yards led the team. The 22-year-old was listed as the RB3 on the first unofficial depth chart of the preseason behind Walker and Emari Demercado, but if Johnson continues to run hard and look good in camp and the preseason, it would not be a surprise at all to see him open his rookie campaign as the primary backup in KC. In addition to Demercado, Johnson is competing with Brashard Smith for the backup role. Walker will be close to a bell-cow back in his first year with the Chiefs, but Johnson's pass-catching ability alone might make him the best upside handcuff option in KC.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Kansas City Star - Pete Sweeney

Aug 17, 2026, 10:59 AM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell has the potential to be a value pick at his current ADP of 88.9. He's being selected in the eighth round of fantasy drafts as the 32nd running back off the board. The Bucs signed Gainwell to join a backfield that also features Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker. While Irving is the clear No. 1 running back here, we expect to see Gainwell get plenty of volume, similar to his role with the Steelers in 2025. In Pittsburgh, he handled 114 carries and 73 receptions (187 touches) while teammate Jaylen Warren had 211 carries and 40 catches (254 touches). When all was said and done, the two backs combined for 441 touches, but Warren only had 67 more than Gainwell. It doesn't seem like the Bucs signed Gainwell to be solely a third-down back. Yes, he'll fetch plenty of targets, but he'll also get some early-down and goal-line work to offer a change of scenery and keep Irving fresh. In this type of role last year, Gainwell ranked as the RB16 in PPR leagues. He's the RB37 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings for 2026, but we wouldn't be shocked to see him finish as a top-24 fantasy back in PPR leagues for the second year in a row.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 17, 2026, 10:52 AM ET

New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (illness) missed Monday's practice due to a stomach bug, head coach Aaron Glenn told Brian Costello of the New York Post. Out of all the reasons to miss a practice during training camp, an illness raises very little concern. Once Wilson is healthy again, he should return to the field with no limitations. Having Wilson healthy and ready to produce will be key for the Jets, who are looking to bounce back after a dismal 2025 season on both sides of the ball. The 26-year-old receiver is incredibly talented, but injuries and poor quarterback play have resulted in him finishing outside the top 20 fantasy receivers for three of the last four years. The quarterback play isn't necessarily getting any better with Geno Smith, but at least he offers a somewhat steady veteran presence with experience throwing to receivers like DK Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Jakobi Meyers. Wilson currently ranks as the WR18 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for the 2026 fantasy football season.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Brian Costello

Aug 17, 2026, 10:47 AM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (toe) is day-to-day after spraining his toe during practice, head coach Todd Bowles told PewterReport. Egbuka suffered the injury last week, missed the Bucs' preseason opener against the Jets, and remained absent from practice on Monday. It's never good to see a player have their preseason delayed by injury, but the fact that Egbuka is day-to-day suggests that he remains on track to play in Week 1 of the regular season. Tampa Bay will need him to be healthy for this season; they're relying on him even more now that Mike Evans has departed for San Francisco. The second-year receiver projects to handle a starting role alongside Chris Godwin Sr. The Bucs would surely like to see him replicate the first five weeks of his rookie season, during which he scored five touchdowns and ranked as the overall WR2 in PPR leagues. More consistency at quarterback could help him return to his top-12 receiver form in fantasy football. For now, though, he's the overall WR19 in RotoBaller's latest redraft rankings for 2026.--Andersen Pickard
Source: PewterReport

Aug 17, 2026, 10:43 AM ET

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (groin) has been diagnosed with a groin strain and will undergo further evaluation, head coach Aaron Glenn told Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. Glenn noted that he doesn't believe the injury is serious. Fantasy managers can breathe a sigh of relief. When Hall initially left practice, the initial reports were that Hall was in pain after suffering a non-contact injury. Those types of reports always cause a level of panic, but it sounds like Hall avoided a major injury and will have a decent chance to play in Week 1. He's looking to build off a mediocre season by his standards; last year, he tallied 1,065 rushing yards, 350 receiving yards, and just five total touchdowns. There's no denying the 25-year-old is incredibly talented, but he needs the Jets' offense to play better if he's going to be an RB1 in fantasy football. Last year, New York had too many stalled drives, leading to fewer carries for Hall and a very limited number of goal-line opportunities. The short-term future isn't necessarily brighter under quarterback Geno Smith, but a new season nevertheless brings a change of scenery and a fresh start. We're still encouraged that Hall could be a low-end RB1 in fantasy football this year.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Rich Cimini

Aug 17, 2026, 10:10 AM ET

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving exploded as the overall RB13 during his rookie season in 2024, but as a result of injuries and workload management, he played in just 10 games last year and fell to RB34 in PPR leagues. Rachaad White and Sean Tucker consistently ate into Irving's workload last year, and while White has since departed for Washington, Tucker remains in the backfield and has been joined by Kenny Gainwell. It's fair to wonder if the Buccaneers are going to use Gainwell similarly to how the Steelers did last year and adopt a true split backfield. In Pittsburgh, Gainwell handled 114 carries and 73 receptions (187 touches) while Jaylen Warren had 211 carries and 40 catches (254 touches). When all was said and done, the two backs combined for 441 touches, but Warren only had 67 more than Gainwell. Presumably, the Bucs will use Gainwell on a variety of downs -- not just third down -- in an attempt to keep Irving fresh for a full season after he missed seven games last year. With that being said, the addition of Gainwell to the backfield isn't necessarily bad news for Irving's fantasy stock. While we may not see him push for 20-25 touches as often, he'll theoretically stay fresh for a bigger portion of the season, perhaps allowing him to stay available for all 17 games. We're still confident in Irving's ability to serve as a mid-range RB2 for fantasy football managers this season.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 17, 2026, 10:04 AM ET

Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey has ranked among the top three fantasy scorers at his position in each of the last three years, and we don't expect that to change in 2026. Aubrey has one of the league's most powerful and accurate legs, he kicks in a closed-air stadium, and he plays for a Cowboys team with a high-scoring offense. The 31-year-old routinely finds himself in high-value scenarios for fantasy football, and his accuracy numbers speak for themselves. Last year, he went 36-for-42 on field goals, including 11 makes from 50+ yards, and he also went 47-for-48 on extra points. As it stands, he ranks as the overall K1 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings. With that being said, managers in most leagues should hold off on taking a kicker until the last round or two of the draft.--Andersen Pickard
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 17, 2026, 10:01 AM ET

New York Jets running back Breece Hall pulled up and fell down after catching a screen pass in Monday's training camp practice, and he has left the field with what NFL reporter Ryan Dunleavy speculates to be a groin injury. Hall tore his ACL as a rookie in 2022 but has played in at least 16 games in each of the past three seasons, even while managing minor lower-body ailments. With the Jets' first game of the 2026 regular season less than a month away, Hall's status will now need to be monitored, as any prolonged absence could threaten his Week 1 availability. The Jets have been praised throughout camp as an offense on the rise, and Hall, who is RotoBaller's RB18, is projected to handle a significant workload. If healthy, he could prove to be one of the more valuable backs found outside the opening rounds of 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Ryan Dunleavy

Aug 17, 2026, 9:49 AM ET

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson has never topped 41 catches or 620 receiving yards in a season, but he's also never played a full slate of games nor been the team's unquestioned primary receiver. With the team moving on from Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks this offseason, reports out of training camp indicate that Watson has a strong chance to be a lynchpin of the Packers' offense, and if he can manage to stay healthy throughout 2026, he could be due for a legitimate breakout. Now more than 19 months removed from the ACL injury that ended his 2024 season, Watson returned for the final 11 weeks of 2025, playing as the fantasy WR9 over that span and catching six touchdown passes over his final seven games. With tight end Tucker Kraft expected back for the start of the year after suffering his own ACL tear in 2025, the Packers are expected to lean heavily on multi-tight-end packages, a personnel grouping from which Watson has historically thrived. Watson has not finished as a top 40 fantasy receiver since his rookie season, but at RotoBaller's WR28, a sizable step forward is expected, and he is capable of flirting with WR1 upside in any given week.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller

Aug 17, 2026, 9:39 AM ET

The Miami Dolphins have activated rookie wide receiver Chris Bell (knee) from the non-football injury list, and the first-year player could soon begin practicing with the team. Once viewed as a first-round talent, Bell tore his ACL in December and fell to the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft. His rare combination of size and speed allowed him to dominate in his final collegiate season at Louisville, racking up over 900 yards on 72 receptions, and while he will now be playing catch-up to begin his NFL career, he could find a mid-season role in a wide-open Dolphins receiver room. Fellow rookie and third-round pick Caleb Douglas has been a training camp standout, and Malik Washington led the team with three catches in Friday's preseason opener, but with the third receiver spot currently being held by Jalen Tolbert, there is a path for Bell to crack the starting lineup by season's end, making him a player to at least remember in the closing rounds of deep drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: Miami Dolphins

Aug 17, 2026, 9:26 AM ET

Throughout his first six years in the league, Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift has had his detractors, but he has never finished outside the top 24 of his position, and in reuniting with head coach Ben Johnson in 2025, he turned in a career-best RB15 fantasy finish. Splitting work with rookie Kyle Monangai (knee), Swift topped 1,000 rushing yards for the second time in his career while tying his high mark of 10 total touchdowns. Monangai left Sunday's practice with a knee injury, and while it's not believed to be overly serious, his absence serves as a reminder that any time missed could lead to a bell-cow role for Swift in what projects to be one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league. Currently being drafted as the RB22, Swift can meet expectations simply by performing to the level he always has, but with multiple avenues for further upside, he could prove to be one of the better values in the middle rounds of 2026 drafts.--Patrick McGrath
Source: RotoBaller